INSIDE

August 2011

REGULARS 5 Welcome 15 Savings Watch The best deals on the market this month 16 Fight for Your Rights Got a financial problem? Moneywise will take up the fight on your behalf

COLUMNISTS 19 Editor’s letter A great time for consumer power 31 Jeff Prestridge Is a new dawn breaking in financial services? 71 George Pitcher Where’s your pension gone? Ask the City fat cats 88 That’s Life with Esther Rantzen Value is in the eye of the beholder UPFRONT 6 Your Shout 11 Steal of the Month 12 Moneywise Housing Market Round-up SORTED! 24 Money Makeover 26 Your Finances Fixed COMPETITION 40 WIN two nights in a luxury London hotel

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Do you need a bit of extra financial help? Time to check out whether you are entitled to any benefits

20 The latest top 10 scams Fraudsters stay bang up-to-date with all the new ways to swindle consumers and so should you

32 Financial bread and butter Don’t take your current account for granted just because it’s so familiar – here we outline the best deals 36 Easing the burden The benefit system is set to shrink dramatically – but in the meantime, make sure you claim what you’re entitled to

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The old rivalry still rages when it comes to state funding

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Energy providers are once again hiking their prices – how can we short-circuit them?

Dentists may offer NHS treatment, but once in the chair, you may find you pay private fees

42 The trouble with the ‘Big Six’ The big energy providers are holding consumers hostage: we reveal the shocking truth about energy prices 46 The great Scotland/England divide Living north or south of the border can radically affect the amount you pay for education or healthcare 49 Buy-to-let revival The market is looking up for buy-to-let landlords. But it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme; you need to do your homework first

52 Bag a bargain As we pull our purse strings tighter, now could be the time to get into second-hand shopping mode 54 The cost of gleaming gnashers If you leave your dentist feeling rather sore, the amount you’ve been charged may well have something to do with it

61 Investment News Strategic bond funds are flavour of the month 62 The Briefing We look at the Property sector 64 Buy, Hold, Sell

Finsbury’s Nick Train reveals his top picks 65 Investing for all ages The third part of our series looks at investing in your fifties 68 Targeting the novice investor New to investing? Watch out for banks trying to flog you risky, overpriced products

The banks will lull you into thinking your investments will be secure and profitable

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73 Renting in retirement Fed up with the stress and expense of home ownership in retirement? Renting could be the perfect alternative

59 Andrew Pitts

It feels safer investing in big companies in a downturn, but don’t ignore the juicy opportunities that small ones offer

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77 The best products at your fingertips

Our pick of the top products and funds for consumers and investors

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